Rick Michel to Return to the MAC with FRANK SINATRA...A MUSICAL JOURNEY

By popular demand Rick Michel returns to the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd, this time with his full 12-piece orchestra, to commemorate the legendary Frank Sinatra with songs and stories Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is presented in partnership with WDCB 90.9 FM.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day weekend, the MAC will be offering special Valentine's Day inspired cocktails and complimentary post-show chocolates in conjunction with this performance.

"Frank Sinatra...A Musical Journey" reflects upon key points in the singer's life, and the songs that defined those times for him. Frank lived a life that by any measure was a fascinating one. He enjoyed wild successes, endured heartbreaking failures, and lived legendary romances. Michel conveys the richness of Sinatra's life by performing the signature songs of the times, such as "Summer Wind," "Come Rain or Come Shine" written by some of the finest composers and lyricists of the 20th Century including Paul Anka, Irving Berlin, Henry Mayer Johnny Mercher, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers. Woven together by a poignant narrative, the performance paints a portrait of Frank that provides audiences an intimate glimpse of the life he lived his way.

"I think Sinatra was the most articulate of all the pop and standard singers," said Michel. "He made songs his own by uniquely phrasing the words to wrap around the melody line like no one else before him or since. I have tried to touch upon all aspects of Mr. Sinatra's life by choosing the variety of music that best represents his career. There is so much material to choose from that I can continue adding new Sinatra songs to my show for years to come and never get to them all."

Michel has been a master impressionist for more than 30 years. He has shared the stage with many legendary celebrities including Rich Little, Mickey Rooney, John Byner and Sherman Hemsley. Some of the esteemed guests who have enjoyed Michel's impersonations include Frank Sinatra, President Gerald Ford, Tony Curtis and Steve Allen. From the Stratosphere Hotel to the Tropicana Hotel, Michel has enjoyed making Las Vegas his home as well as his work place since 1981.

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn presents Rick Michel in "Frank Sinatra...A Musical Journey" Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45-$56. The MAC's VIP Experience includes a private, pre-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception followed by coffee and dessert at intermission and is available for this concert for an additional $30 per person. For tickets or more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC Box Office at 630.942.4000.

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355, and houses three performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 236-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), plus the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, classrooms for the college's academic programming and the Lakeside Pavilion. The MAC, now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 75,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.

The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information about the MAC, visit AtTheMAC.org, facebook.com/AtTheMAC or twitter.com/AtTheMAC.

To post a comment, you must register and login.